What on earth happens during stage 5?

By Kaunda Selisho

As news of stage 5 and 6 of load shedding looms, fed-up South Africans who are barely coping with stage 4 were left wondering what on earth happens during stage 5?

The possibility of the nation entering stage 5 and 6 was presented earlier today by Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan during a press briefing in which he outlined their plans to stave off a looming nationwide blackout.

Stage 2 calls for 2,000MW to be rotationally load-shed nationally at a given period. In stage 3, 3,000MW must be shed, and 4,000MW must be shed under stage 4.

This also means that various areas across South Africa are left without power for longer periods of time as the stages increase in severity.

As it stands, South Africans are left without power for up to four hours at a time, which can go up to eight hours if their respective substations and transmitters suffer technical difficulties once the lights come back on.

But what on earth happens during stage 5 load shedding?

Technically speaking, Stage 5 and Stage 6 load shedding imply shedding 5,000 MW and 6,000 MW respectively.

South African social media users took creative liberties in describing stage 5 load shedding to each other. Check out some of the best (and darkest) explanations.